Panaji: Two young Russian women have alleged
that a taxi driver attempted to rape them at Anjuna beach here
while they were returning from a Christmas party.
Both girls in their complaint lodged at Anjuna police
station said they had to jump out of the taxi to escape from
his clutches and hide in the woods for almost five hours
waiting for the dawn.
Olga Tyurina (29) and Irina Babayan (25) were returning
from a discotheque at Saligao in North Goa after attending
Christmas party.
Both the girls, who know little English, have told police
that an unidentified taxi driver, whom they had hired to drop
them back to their hotel at Baga, took them to Anjuna beach.
The taxi driver who initially had agreed for Rs 300 took
them by another road pretending to avoid police picketing at
2:20 am. He stopped at Anjuna beach and demanded Rs 1,000
instead, they said.
When we protested, he tried to grab us. We were horrified
and jumped out of the taxi and took shelter in the woods
nearby, they said.
The girls said they were in the jungle for almost five
hours and left from there only in the morning. The police
complaint was lodged this morning at 7.
Police have confirmed that a complaint of attempt to rape
has been lodged by the victims and said they are tracking
down the taxi driver.
The incident took place last night.
"We will soon get his custody," a police officer said.
The state had recently witnessed a similar case wherein
25-year-old Russian girl was allegedly raped by a high-profile
politician at Colva Beach.
John Fernandes, accused in the case, is still at large.
PTI
First Published: Friday, December 25, 2009, 18:29